In Shaftesbury with Cyn and Chastity

On Monday I traveled down to London on the train -- and I love being able to do that!

On Tuesday, I did a bunch of radio interviews for stations around the country. OVerall it was fun, and the interviewers were great, and anyway, I enjoy talking about my books.

Then we traveled down to Shaftesbury. (The above scene is over beautiful countryside from Shaftesbury.) We would have stayed at the Crown, mentioned in Lady Notorious, but it's closed. In any case the building there now is Victorian. Alas even in the past they tore down the old to put up the new, improved version. Perhaps I shouldn't say alas. Probably people appreciated higher ceilings, larger rooms, and safer staircases.

We stayed in a lovely places called La Fleur de Lys, which describes itself as "a restaurant with rooms." It's a n old house, and I was told it was once a small school., but I haven't researched the history.

Shaftesbury is a small town but it was a busy coaching town and many inns remain, some now shops or offices. The one shown on the left didn't seem to be used for much.

Cyn and Chastity visit Shaftesbury in Lady Notorious and buy various things, including women's clothing for Cyn to wear. Perhaps going down an alley like this one?

Then we drove the 15 miles or so to Salisbury, which still has wonderful old parts, but is much more a modern city. And it rained on us. Not Salisbury's fault, but we couldn't hunt down the bits most relevant to Lady Notorious.

However, we had a lovely reading and book launch at the Black Horse, where the travelers stayed. (It once was much larger, expanding three times as far to the right.) But only for a while, because they spot one of the villains and rushed onward, as we will do tomorrow, to Winchester.

This is the room where we help the intimate event. It is typically Georgian in being small. We were delighted that Mrs. Bobbie Chettleburgh, Madam Mayor of Salisbury attended and contributed her deep knowledge of Salisbury's history.

Tomorrow, Southampton and Winchester.

Having fun,

Jo